Classic Ham Pea Salad Recipe

Last Updated on October 21, 2022 by Ellen Christian

This ham pea salad recipe is a simple spring recipe using peas, ham, and bacon. Try this classic pea salad with ranch dressing today.

Peas are one of my favorite spring vegetables because they are so versatile. This pasta with peas recipe is another one of my favorites.

If you like pasta with your peas, you should try my pasta with peas and bacon recipe. It’s a delicious side salad that works well for a potluck.

Classic Ham Pea Salad Recipe

If you love Amish Pea Salad with Ham and Cheese, you will probably find that this recipe is quite similar. The addition of bacon to this recipe just takes it to a whole new level. What isn’t better with bacon?

This creamy pea salad is a wonderful way to use up leftover ham. Or, if you don’t have leftovers in the freezer, you can always start with a ham steak from the grocery store and then cut it into cubes.

One of the reasons that I love this old fashioned pea salad is that it’s gluten-free. It doesn’t have any pasta in it. So, as long as you choose gluten-free ham and bacon, it’s suitable for people with food allergies.

Can I use fresh peas?

Yes, this recipe starts with frozen peas. But, if your garden is producing a lot of fresh peas, you can cook those and use them instead. Or, you can pick some up from the farmer’s market.

We often make this ham pea salad recipe in the spring after Easter when we have lots of extra ham. Our garden isn’t usually producing peas at this point so starting with frozen is easier.

What is pea salad?

Everyone does this recipe a little bit differently. This version uses ham, bacon, red onions, cheddar cheese, and peas along with a ranch dressing.

If you’re looking for a green pea salad without mayo, this is perfect. I’ve seen other versions that use mayonnaise instead of ranch dressing. Others use sour cream. 

A classic Amish pea salad recipe will have cubes of cheddar cheese but no bacon. You can adjust it the way you like to please your family.

How to make a classic ham pea salad

It doesn’t get much easier than this classic pea salad. You simply mix all of the ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate it overnight. In the morning, stir it well to combine and serve.

If you don’t have time the day before to prep this, you should refrigerate it, covered, for at least three hours so the flavors mix together. Just make it in the morning to serve that evening.

You can always add some freshly chopped chives right before you serve it if you want to. It adds a bit more zip to the ham pea salad than by just using the red onion.

How can I store leftovers?

Store your leftover creamy pea salad in a container with a tightly fitting lid. It will stay good refrigerated for up to three days. You can add more ranch dressing before serving it if you need to.

Ham pea salad variations

• Leave out the bacon if you prefer or use bacon bits

• Add broccoli and cauliflower for more crunch

• Use sour cream or mayonnaise instead of the ranch dressing

• Used cubed cheese instead of shredded

• Try Monterey Jack or Colby cheese instead of cheddar

What should I serve with this?

This ham pea salad is just about a complete meal by itself because it has meat and vegetables. I often just eat a big bowl of it for lunch. 

But, if you want to serve this as a side dish, you can serve it with burgers, hot dogs, or chicken on the grill. Or, why not try these grilled chicken kabobs.

• Cooking frozen bacon